While Starbucks Japan has kept up with its busy schedule of a constant stream of creative Frappuccino flavors (including 47 unique regional flavors, one for each prefecture in the country), they've also been making time to commit to a more sustainable environment and efforts to reduce waste, targeting a total of 50% total waste reduction generated by their stores by 2030.

To accomplish this, Starbucks has taken steps such as cooking up a limited edition sustainable carrot cake, as well as stylish notebooks made from recycled milk cartons.

Their latest effort follows suit, as Starbucks Japan has set a new goal to reduce food waste by selling doughnuts, cakes, sandwiches, and other items at discounted prices before closing time.

In response to a Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries report that a wasted food total from the year 2018 was 6 million tons (3.24 million tons was business-related food loss generated by food-related businesses), Starbucks Japan has announced its "Food Loss Reduction Program."

The program will be launched in Starbucks stores nationwide on August 23, 2021. Around three hours before the store closes, marked items in the food case will be sold at a 20% discount. The program's implementation will vary from store to store depending on inventory, but will allow for perfectly good food that is expected to be discarded to be sold at a reduced price.

In addition, a part of the proceeds from the food loss reduction program will be donated to Musubie, a certified NPO that supports children's cafeterias nationwide.

Next time if the schedule of of your brew or limited edition Frappuccino can afford it, you may want to grab a specially marked snack from the snack section at Starbucks Japan closer to closing time.